NExt and/or ExtraNet?

NExt stands for “New conception ExtraNet”. It will gradually replace ExtraNet in its current form. All relevant functions that are currently available in ExtraNet will also be available in NExt. In addition, new features will be added to complement or generally extend the current scope of functionality. The individual services to be provided in NExt are being developed in small, iterative steps. NExt will therefore launch as a minimum viable product (MVP, basic release) and then be expanded over time.

The Bundesbank’s individual business units will gradually migrate from ExtraNet to NExt. Both systems will thus operate in parallel for a certain period of time.

Further information on the release schedule will be published as soon as it is available. Customers affected by the changeover will be informed separately in advance.

What is NExt?

NExt is designed to provide users with a modern and intuitive portal encompassing all services and features covered by the scope of functionality. This means that users will have to spend less time searching for the features they need and will be able to easily find all of their key functions in a user-friendly and customisable format. In addition, when using the portal, users will see only the information and functions that are appropriate to their user rights and permissions. Each user can then individually select the features most relevant to them and personalise their NExt portal.

NExt vs. ExtraNet?

NExt	ExtraNet
Self-services and user managers for user administration	Paper-based processes or involvement of Bundesbank required, unnecessary waiting times in some cases due to use of different formats
Central access point: users have all the information they need in a single portal	Individual components can only be accessed separately via dedicated URLs
Convenient, accessible user interfaces	Individual applications
Modern and secure authentication procedures	Login only possible with user name and password
Easy and secure communication via a dialogue function directly in the portal	Communication often only possible via email
Modern and standardised interfaces (APIs) used for automated exchange – notes for a developer portal to be added later	Non-standardised interfaces

Scope of functionality

NExt offers a variety of basic services that are needed by a wide range of users, thus achieving the objectives of the NExt project. At the same time, these basic services are oriented towards standardisation. External customers benefit from this because it provides them with a single, uniform method of accessing comparable services in different areas of work that feature standardised content and functionalities. The Bundesbank follows the principle of “one face to the customer”, i.e. the design is consistent and standardised regardless of whether users connect via an API or make use of the GUI.

The following provides an overview of the basic services offered by NExt and whether these will be available immediately upon release of the MVP.

Registration process (including user managers)

Users can create their own user accounts. In addition, users are administered by user managers at their company.

MVP: Yes
Submission + status display

Submission + status display replaces the old ExtraNet file transfer function. Customers can use this function to transfer data to the Bundesbank. With the newly added status display, external customers can directly see the processing status of their submitted files.

MVP: Yes
Notifications [Downloads area]

In this area, the Bundesbank makes files available to customers for download.

MVP: Yes
Dialogue

The dialogue function replaces the contact tool in ExtraNet and offers secure communication with external customers in NExt.

MVP: No
Email notifications

NExt offers external users a wide variety of options for receiving emails informing them about new processes in NExt. These email notifications can be activated or deactivated individually. In this way, users can ensure that they never miss important and, in some cases, time-sensitive information.

MVP: Yes
Reporting calendar

The newly developed (reporting) calendar provides external customers with an overview of all submission deadlines for their relevant specialist topics. For specialist topics that require reports and/or submissions, the calendar is linked to the submission and status display function. This means that the calendar displays whether reporting requirements still need to be fulfilled for specific topics on specific dates.

MVP: No
To-do list

The to-do list provides external customers with a clear overview of any tasks they need to complete that may be located in various other areas in NExt. These may include, for example, unanswered dialogue messages, unread error messages for submitted reports, and required actions in external user management.

MVP: No
Information and regulations

Business units have the option of displaying all the current information and documents that external users require on a particular specialist topic in one place in NExt and, if necessary, providing links to the Bundesbank website. The option of sorting or restricting this information according to specialist topic is planned.

MVP: No
Support and help function

For external users, each page in NExt features its own context-sensitive help function. The help function offers instructions and information as well as video tutorials on various topics.

MVP: Yes
APIs/interfaces

External customers can use APIs to connect to the services in NExt.

MVP: Yes

Terminology

NExt makes use of new terminology. Definitions and explanations of these terms are provided below:

Work area
“Work area” (“Arbeitsgebiet”) is the new name for a “specialised procedure” (“Fachverfahren”) from ExtraNet due to the amended scope of functionality.

A work area comprises one or more thematically related specialist topics of a particular business unit.

Examples:

Prudential returns – BAM
CashEDI – CSH
Open Market Tender Operations System – OMTOS
Specialist topic

The term “specialist topic” (“Fachthema”) replaces “function of a specialised procedure” (“Fachverfahrensfunktion”) from ExtraNet.

It refers to the individual roles and permissions within a given work area. In this context, one role can grant access to multiple basic services in NExt (e.g. Submission + status display, Reporting calendar, Dialogue). This enables individual or multiple options to be enabled or disabled for a given specialist topic, depending on the needs of the business unit.
Specialist identifier

A specialist identifier (“Fachidentifikator”) is a code for a specialised application, e.g. bank sort code, MFI code, or GLN.
Status display

The status display is a standardised form of feedback from the Bundesbank to users on the status of their submissions.
User manager
External companies can designate their own employees as their user managers in NExt. User manager tasks include:

approval of employee applications for access to NExt;
approval of changes to employee profiles and permissions
creation and direct maintenance of employee user data (if required)
overview of existing users (user administration)
deletion of inactive users
support for blocked employee accounts.

User managers can be defined for one or more work areas. User managers can act as both user managers and standard users at the same time.

Testing

Are you a current user of ExtraNet and want to see what NExt has to offer?

We regularly host testing sessions where we present and explain new features. Are you interested in taking part? If so, please contact us via the contact form (under Contact) and we will send you information about testing.